Classes started this week. That is the last time I will say (or type) that in my undergraduate college career. Can I get a WOOHOO?!!! I started to prepare for the semester last weekend. I had to get my ID badge that I'll wear in the public schools (it just identifies me and certifies that I've been fingerprinted and had a background check). I also began my student teaching application that's due on the 12th. Not going to lie, as I bought my books, got my ID badge, and filled out my application I got extremely excited about my career choice. There were many days early on that I doubted my program. I thought Theory of Analysis, Abstract Algebra, Differential Equations, Fundamentals of Mathematics, and of course Linear Algebra would never end. I had a mid-college-life crisis one semester and thought about changing to a major that will not be named (maybe I'm ashamed). But man am I glad that I stuck it out. And now, here I am at the end.
The best part about this all is that I really like my classes this semester. So I'm having my cake and eating it too! I'm taking MathEd 377/378 which is the practicuum in my program. We basically study how to be better math teachers. We watch clips of teachers and analyze the tasks that they give and the questions they ask. We also prepare several of our own lesson plans on various topics and teach them to each other. We'll also go out into the public schools to observe and on some occasions teach. I really like my teacher for this course and I'm excited to start teaching! I'm also taking Math 300- The History and Philosophy of Mathematics. This class is exactly what it sounds like...ha. We study this history of mathematics up until about the 1700s. My professor for this class is awesome and I'm really excited about it. Finally, I'm taking Math 355- Graph Theory. I was kind of nervous about this one, but it turns out I'm really enjoying it. My last class is of course...basketball haha. This is the fifth time I've taken it (by choice, not because of failure ha). I've found that it really helps me release a lot of stress from my crazy major.
So there it is, the last 10.5 credits before I student teach. Unfortunately, I don't get to choose where I will do my student teaching. I requested to be placed down in Nebo school district which is where I work. It would be close to work and I know a lot of the students at various schools from my job (I'm the head math tutor at Success Education Center in Spanish Fork). Anyways, here's hoping I'll get to teach down there. Then, it will all be official in April: graduation, complete with credentials and my license to teach! It's crazy to think that in less than a year I'll be in my own classroom, on salary (as minimal as it may be), and officially be starting my career! A lot of people question whether I'll find a teaching job (given the several budget cuts and unemployed teachers in the nation). Luckily, math is always in demand. Last year, in the heart of all this economic mess, every Math Ed graduate from BYU found a teaching a job! So that was definitely good news. So here's hoping.
It feels really good that I can type the remainder of my college career and the beginning of my life's career in just a few short paragraphs. Self, good day.
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